Buying a new smartphone from Xiaomi is always a joyous event, but it is often overshadowed by the need to transfer huge amounts of personal data, especially multimedia files: photos and videos that take up gigabytes of memory. Owners of the Mi ecosystem are more fortunate than users of other brands, as the company has developed several effective tools for rapid migration.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods, from embedded system utilities to cloud services, how to use Mi Mover for instant gallery cloning, how to configure synchronization via Mi Cloud, and what alternative ways to transfer files without loss of quality, which will allow you to focus on mastering a new device rather than routine copying.
Whether you're upgrading your model or just want to make room on your old phone, choosing the right tool is critical. Some methods provide top speed, others provide convenience and automation. Let's look at each option in detail so you can choose the best one for your situation.
Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration
The most efficient and official way to transfer all data, including photos, is the Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on most modern Xiaomi smartphones and allows data to be transmitted over a direct Wi-Fi connection, providing high speeds and without consuming mobile traffic, a method ideal when you first set up a new device.
To get started, open the app on both devices. On the old smartphone, select the role of "Sender" (Old phone), and on the new one - "Receiver" (New phone). The application will create an access point to which you will need to connect. Once you connect, you will see a list of data categories; select Images and Videos to transfer only media files, or mark all points for full cloning.
⚠️ Note: During the transfer process, do not switch to other applications or block smartphone screens. Interrupting the connection during the copying phase of large amounts of data can lead to file damage or the need to start the process again.
The speed of transfer depends on the number of files and their size. When working with gigabytes of photos, the process can take from 10 to 40 minutes, the advantage of this method is that the folder structure is stored, and you will find your photos in the same albums as on the previous device.
☑️ Preparation for transfer via Mi Mover
Synchronization through the cloud service Mi Cloud
If you have a stable Internet connection, Mi Cloud cloud storage is a great option, and the good thing about it is that your photos will be available not only on your new phone, but also on your tablet or computer at any time.
On the old device, go to the settings and select Mi Account. In the sync menu, make sure that the slider opposite the Gallery item is activated. The system will automatically upload all new images to the cloud. On the new phone, just log in to the same account, and photos will begin to appear in the gallery as you download.
What to do if the cloud is out of place?
It is important to note that when synchronized via Mi Cloud, the original photos retain their quality unless compression is selected in the settings. However, the download speed depends on the speed of your Internet connection. When using mobile Internet, it is recommended to connect to the Wi-Fi network so as not to exhaust the traffic limit.
Transfer files via Mi Drop (Mi Share)
Mi Drop technology (in newer versions of MIUI and HyperOS integrated into the "Mi Share" feature) allows you to transfer files between Xiaomi devices similar to Apple's AirDrop. It is a quick way to transfer several dozen or hundreds of photos without having to back up or connect cables.
To send a photo, open the gallery, select the images you want, and click the "Share" button. From the list of available methods, select Mi Drop or Mi Share. The receiving device must have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled. The smartphones will find each other automatically, and you will only have to confirm the acceptance of files.
- 🚀 High speed: Uses Wi-Fi Direct protocols to transfer large files in seconds.
- 🔒 Security: Transmission takes place over a secure channel without access to the Internet.
- 📱 Cross-platform: Works not only between Xiaomi, but also with other Android devices that support this standard.
This is especially useful if you want to resend photos selectively, such as just the pictures from your last trip, rather than the entire gallery.
Use of Google Photos and other cloud services
Xiaomi smartphone owners often use Google services as the main ecosystem. the Google Photos app is pre-installed on all GMS-certified devices and offers unlimited (compression) storage or full quality within the Google One tariff.
It's the same as Mi Cloud. You install the app on your old phone, log in to your Google account and turn on Autoboot. Wait until the sync is over. On the new Xiaomi, you just install the app and log in to the same account, all the photos are instantly available. This is one of the most reliable ways to back up.
| Service | Free limit | Quality by default | Integration with MIUI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Cloud | 5GB | Original | Native (systemic) |
| Google Photo | 15 GB (total) | Saving Place / Original | High (via GMS) |
| Yandex.Disk. | 10GB | Original | Through the app |
| Turbo (from Mail.ru) | 8GB | Original | Through the app |
Beyond Google, Yandex.Disk and other cloud storage are popular, often offering unlimited photo promotions to mobile operators, and the choice of service depends on your preferences and subscriptions.
Wired connection and use of PC
The classic method that never fails, if you want to flip terabytes of data, you need a computer to do that. USB-Connect the old Xiaomi to the PC, select the mode of operation USB File transfer (MTP) and copy the folder. DCIM computer-hard drive.
Then, connect the new smartphone and transfer the saved photos to the appropriate folder, which guarantees 100% preservation of metadata (date, time, geolocation) and original quality without any compression that cloud services sometimes use when automatically optimizing.
⚠️ Note: When copying large amounts of data through USB use the ports USB 3.0 (blue) on your computer for maximum speed. Avoid using cheap "charging-only" cables, as they may not support data transfer or work unstablely.
You can also use a USB-OTG (Type-C on Type-C) cable to connect two smartphones directly if you don’t have a computer on hand, in which case one phone will be identified as an external storage, and you can copy files through the built-in File Explorer.
💡
Use archiving. If you copy thousands of small photos, archive them in the first place. ZIP-This will speed up the copying process and make it easier to transfer, because you'll be copying one large file instead of thousands of small ones.
Solving and optimizing the process
Sometimes the transfer process can be technically difficult, such as the transfer may stop at 99% or some photos may not open on a new device, often due to format incompatibility or file system errors.
If Mi Mover gives an error, try clearing the app cache on both phones through the Settings menu → Apps → All apps → Mi Mover → Clean. Also make sure there is enough free space on the receiving device. A shortage of even 100MB can interrupt the process.
💡
The fastest way to migrate a file is through Wi-Fi Direct. The most reliable way to save an archive is to copy it to a PC. The most convenient way to use it every day is to sync it over the cloud.
After a successful transfer, it is recommended to check the integrity of the files. Open the gallery on the new phone and scroll through the albums, making sure that the photos are displayed correctly. If you used cloud sync, give the device time to download the previews in high resolution.